Fundraiser being held for Old Port fire victims

PORTLAND, Maine (NEWS CENTER) -- A fire in the Old Port last week affected five businesses and a dozen residents on Fore Street.

Since then, just one business has reopened. The others will likely take weeks to clean up and open again.

People living in the apartments on the upper floor are still waiting to get back inside their homes.

"That's the worst part, you're waiting to find out if you're going to have your house back or not," said Evan Dahms, who works at Joe's New York Pizza, one of the most heavily damaged businesses on Fore Street.

Dahms said he has become close with his upstairs neighbors, and it's difficult to know that they are couch surfing and scattered throughout the city.

"We all look out for one another," said Dahms.

He is organizing a fundraiswer this weekend to help those displaced from the fire.

There will be a pub crawl poker game between five Old Port buisnesses on Saturday afternoon. It costs $10 to play, and participants pick up a new playing card at each bar. The person with the best poker hand at the end of the afternoon wins a grand prize.

It begins at 1 p.m. at Rosie's. For more information, check the Facebook page for the event.